| Armed Forces Entertainment will send three actors to some of the most remote bases in the Pacific this Fourth of July Pacific to visit with U.S. military personnel as part of the Summer Hollywood Handshake tour beginning June 24 and continuing through July 7.
The star-studded line up for the tour includes Tim Reid of “WKRP in Cincinnati;” Daphne Maxwell Reid, who played Aunt Viv on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and Wanda N. Colón, host and designer on the popular TLC program “Home Made Simple.”
The group will be traveling to bases in Hawaii, Kwajalein, Guam and Okinawa. The actors will get up-close and personal with military personnel during autograph sessions and while hanging out at the mess hall. They will also visit workstations and base schools.
“My brother was a Marine, he went into the service when I was very young,” explains Colón. “I know, as a family member, what its like to have this person that you love be there for you one day and then the next he’s gone. My brother and I are very close, so I wanted to give my time to honor my brother and show our troops that the people of America support and appreciate them and that we realize how hard it is to be away from home.”
Located approximately 2,100 miles southwest of Hawaii, Kwajalein is the largest and southern most atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. It is considered to be one of the most remote United States bases.
“We’re so grateful to these talented stars for volunteering their time and energies for this tour,” said Air Force Colonel Edward Shock, Chief of Armed Forces Entertainment. “Its wonderful that this tour will feature so many actors who have close connections with current and former military personnel. It will make this tour even more special and I know the servicemen and women will enjoy it.”
###
Armed Forces Entertainment is the lead Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and at remote and isolated locations. The Department of the Air Force is the executive agent of Armed Forces Entertainment. Founded in 1951, Armed Forces Entertainment brings a touch of home to more than 500,000 troops annually, embracing the best of Americana that stretches across all genres of entertainment. Visit www.armedforcesentertainment.com for more information.
Quotes:
Wanda N. Colón [last name pronounced as Cologne]
“My brother was a Marine and my uncle was in the Army for more than 20 years, so I absolutely understand being separated from the people you care about the most. The opportunity to tour with Armed Forces Entertainment and meet the soldiers came up during the holidays; at the time my production assistant’s husband was stationed in Iraq and I was working on a home with a woman whose husband was also deployed. When I got the call from my agent to participate in this tour, I literally jumped at the chance. It was one of those offers where everything clicks together and fate intervened. fate intervening and giving me the opportunity to give something back myself. I’m just really excited about being in the environment, being able to be face to face with people who give so much to their country.”
|
